Technology

Legislation that aims to protect and foster digital innovation

The press of the mouse button, the keystroke, or a computer code are all protected by law. Legally, these are considered as “Intellectual property” including the trademark, patent, and copyright. Intellectual property enforcement is crucial for innovation, development as well as for the economy. In fact, technologies are made public, so other people can build […]

WhatsApp starts payments in Brazil: Sign of things to come?

By The Associated Press undefined Facebook’s WhatsApp chat platform is launching mobile payments in Brazil, a country often used to test out new services because of its large online population. WhatsApp said in a blog post Monday that users in Brazil will now be able to send money securely, or make a purchase from a […]

Norway ends virus tracing app over privacy concerns

OSLO, Norway (AP) — Norway has suspended use of its smartphone app meant to track and trace coronavirus contagions after a public spat between health authorities and the information watchdog. Geir Bukholm, an official at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), said the decision Monday to delete data and halt any further information gathering […]

7 attention-grabbing tech facts to know about

1. Former Facebook chief product officer Chris Cox will return after a year-long absence to his previous role at the company, which includes overseeing the main Facebook App, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Cox, one of Mark Zuckerberg’s top lieutenants, left in March 2019 over “artistic differences” with the CEO over his plans to make Facebook […]

Reports: Amazon under scrutiny by California, Washington

NEW YORK (AP) — State officials in California and Washington are reviewing Amazon’s business practices to determine whether the company is violating any laws with respect to the independent merchants that sell goods on its site, according to published reports. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that California is examining the retail giant’s business practices, […]

Virtual Reality – can it harm our eyesight?

While technology has enhanced our lives in many ways and offered solutions, too much of anything, has its own set of repercussions. Prior research has indicated that being overly connected can cause psychological issues, from distraction, narcissism, expectation of instant gratification, and depression. Besides affecting user’s mental health, intense use of technology (and physical inactivity) […]

Amazon bans police use of its face recognition for a year

By JOSEPH PISANI and MATT O’BRIEN Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon banned police use of its face recognition technology for a year, making it the latest tech giant to step back from law-enforcement use of systems that have faced criticism for incorrectly identifying people with darker skin. The Seattle-based company did not say […]

IBM quits facial recognition, joins call for police reforms

By MATT O’BRIEN AP Technology Writer IBM is getting out of the facial recognition business, saying it’s concerned about how the technology can be used for mass surveillance and racial profiling. Ongoing protests responding to the death of George Floyd have sparked a broader reckoning over racial injustice and a closer look at the use […]

Feds seek $225M fine for pair who made a billion robocalls

By TALI ARBEL AP Technology Writer The U.S. communications regulator on Tuesday proposed a $225 million fine, its largest ever, against two health insurance telemarketers for spamming people with 1 billion robocalls using fake phone numbers. The Federal Communications Commission said John Spiller and Jakob Mears made the calls through two businesses. State attorneys general […]

Remote teams face telecoms-related challenges

As Covid-19 spread to countries far and wide, no company was prepared for the sudden shift in remote work life. The lack of preparation made it more of a challenge for some employees to adapt to the demands of the job from home. Although the preconceived idea that remote workers are less productive has been […]